Machine for making firecrackers



Nov. 7, 1939. R c; H11-T MACHINE FOR MAKING FIRECRACKERS Filed March 11, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 7, 11939. Rv c. H1TT MACHINE FOR MAKING FIRECRACKERS Filed Maron 11, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. C, HITT MACHINE FOR MAKING FIRECRACKERS Nov., 7? 3,939.,

Filed Mrcn 11, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. R iii/ifi Y ATTORNEY.

Nov.. 7, @3Q R. c. Hm'

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIRECRACKERS Filed March ll, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 11,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for building powder sacks for recrackers, and particularly for iashcrackas.

In the manufacture of the flashcracka type of firecrackers, it has been the practice to insert a suitable charge of explosive of powder within a soft paper sack, and then to manually tie the sack for insertion Within a suitable container cover. This method has been slow and unsatisfactory.

It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide a machine for preparing a suitable section of thin cardboard tubing, and for folding the same over a charge of powder. A

particular object is to provide such a machine for cutting such tubing into suitable sections. and for closing the lower ends of such section to provide for receiving a. charge of powder, and thereafter to fold down the top of such a section over the powder into position for insertion wit a holder.

vWith these and other objects to be hereinafter shown, Ir have illustratively exemplified my invention by theaccompanying drawings, of which Figures l to 7 inclusive, are illustrative of the various shapes va. section of s uitable tubing is given successively while passed along over or through the machine, and particularly: Figure 1 is an elevation view of a tube of suitable mate-- rial of any desired length, from whicha lower section is cut for sacks., Figure 2 shows a section removed from the lower end of the tube and the lower end compressed. Figure 3 shows the section with the lower compressed end bent upward.' Figure 4 shows another view of Fig. 3 with a part broken away and a charge of powder therein, and a fuse inserted. Figure 5 shows the section with the upper portion compressed and flattened over the fuse and powder. Figure 6 Y4,0 shows the upper flattened end turned down on one side over the lower end, and Figure 7 shows the closed sack within a suitable holder. Figure 8 shows a diagrammatic plan of the machine. Figure 9 shows a plan view of the front portion of the part of the machine for cutting and bending up the bases of sections. Figure 10 is a plan view of the rear end of the machine for bending upward the lower ends of the sections. Figure 11 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9. Figure 12 is a side elevation of parts shown in Fig. 10. Figure 13 is a side elevation of the part shown in Fig. 11. Figure 14 is a sectional fragmentary detail view of a conveyor chain, and a belt for upturning the lower attened ends of the sections, to provide a sack,

1938, Serial No. 195,326

taken on line Ill- I4 of Fig. 13. Figure 15 is a View of the parts shown in Fig. 14, but taken on line |5-I5 of Fig. 13, showing the lower flattened end bent up against the body of the section, or sack. Figure 16 is a sectional fragmen- 5 tary detail View of the conveyor chain and front end of a fixed strap for downturning the attened top portion of the section for enclosing a charge of powder, taken on line |6-I6 of Fig. 12. Figure 17 is a view of the parts shown in l0 Fig. 16, but taken on line l'I-Il of Fig. 12, showing the upper iiattened endturned down, and the position of the xed strap upset with the former top edge at the bottom; and Figure 18 is an end elevation of the rear portion shown in 15 Fig. 10, in cross section, taken 'on line |8|8 of Fig. 10.

Like characters and figures on the diierent gures, represent like parts. a represents a strip of any suitable length of thin pliable cardboard 20 or pasteboard, to be cut into desir-ed sections as b. c indicates a line of severance, to provide the sections for sacks when folded for a charge of powder as p, for pyrotechnic displays. After the section b has been severed the lower end is 25 pinched together and attened as d, and then upturned as d', to close the lower end of the section for a receiving sack. The charge of' powder is then poured into the open top of the section and suitable fuse e, inserted for ignition. 30 Next the upper portion of the section is pinched or flattened together as f, and then folded down as j' over the upturned lower end d, for insertion within any suitable cover container, as illustrated by h.

Numeral 25 represents a perpendicular cylinder aflixed to a shaft 26, which is rotatably driven by gear 21 in mesh with gear 28. The latter is aiiixed to a prime mover shaft 29, which may be rotated/by any suitable means, as a conventional 40 pulley shown as 30. The cylinder is provided with a series of perpendicular grooves 3| along the periphery thereof. Funnel cups 32 are eX- tended above the grooves to facilitatevthe placing of the tube material while the cylinder is 45 revolving. A circular groove 33 is provided around said cylinder at a suitable point for severance of the tubing. A knife 34, preferably circular, is rotatably mounted with its edge extended within the'groove 33 and across the line 50' and 43 respectively. 55

The lower portion of the cylinder is reduced in diameter to provide a. shoulder 36 which extends beneath the grooves 3l for the extension of the lower ends of the cut off section and a separating blade or picker 31 is projected from a supporting frame 38 in such manner that its point 39 is in slidable relation with said shoulder. Thus as the cylinder carries the tubes around, the lower sections are severed therefrom by the knife and then removed from the shoulder by the picker. The remaining upper portions of the tube material then slide down against said frame to the position occupied by the severed and removed section and are carried around until the knife is again met, and another section removed. Opposite to the shoulder is mounted a roller 40 on shaft 4l, which latter also carries said knife and is driven by gear 35 in mesh with said gear 43 on the shaft 26. When the lower end of the severed section is carried adjacent the roller, such portion of the section is compressed and flattened against the shoulder into a solid foot d,

against which the picker operates.

A track 44 is supported on brackets 45, above the frame 38 and is mounted in spaced relation from and opposite said shoulder. Upon this track is slidably disposed an endless conveyor or chain 42, composed of links 46 and blocks 46', and connected by pivots 46", and driven by a sprocket wheel 41 on top of said shaft 26. A free turning sprocket 48 positionedat the opposite end of the frame 38 maintains said chain in horizontal loop form of the desired length. A flange 49 is provided behind the inner edge of the track behind said chain, which prevents the front face thereof from bending backward.

The outer edges or faces of each link block 46 carry curved jaws 50, which provide sockets 52 between the same of suitable dimension for eX- tending half around the sack sections b. The movement of the cylinder and the movement of the jaws are so timed that when each severed section of tube is forced outward by the picker that one of said sockets respectively will be in opposite position to receive such section and then carry the same along in travel with said chain. A guide bar 5| is supported above said frame 38 and track 44 in spaced relation in front of said jaws 5l] to maintain such sections b within said sockets while being carried along. Said bar is supported at its front end by a bracket 49' and by elevated yoke 49", and further supported by brackets 5 I at its extended end 5|'.

In order to bend or roll up such lower flattened end d, a belt 53 is provided, which is moved along together with said conveyor but independently thereof. Such belt is driven as by a pulley 54, on pintle 55, which latter is driven by power belt 56 and large pulley 51 afilxed to the prime shaft 29. The bending belt 53 is guided along suitable lines by a free pulley 58 to press said belt on an angle against the lower ilattened ends d, of the sections and across the line of travel thereof, thus to bend such lower ends of the sections outward at right angles as the sections are moved forward. A second guide pulley 59 is mounted on a different angle in an advanced and elevated position, whereby said belt 54 is raised and such bent out flattened ends of the sections are bent or turned upward parallel with the body portion b, of the tube sections and pressed against the outer side of the guide rail 5|. Adjacent said pulley 59 said guide bar 5I is divided and the extended portion 5| thereof is spread outward for guiding such upbent ends d, at 5I a behind such extended portion 6|'. Thereafter said upturned ends are moved forward in compressed relation against the body portion of the sections b, as seen in Figs. 11 and 13.

While the tube sections are being carried along as described theyare approximately half illled with suitable powder as p, and fuses e are positioned therein for ignition. The upper end of the tube section is next flattened by being carried between two rollers 60 and 6l which may be freely mounted, but are preferably turned by a sprocket 62, from shaft 63 driven by belt 64 from a sprocket 65 on shaft 48', and by two connecting gears 66 and 61 on a. shaft 68.

I'he next step is the down turning of the tops as flattened at f, by passing between the rollers. 'I'his action is preferably accomplished by a flat metal strap 69, attached in any suitable mannerY as by bracket 10, at its front end adjacent said rollers 66 and 6I. This fixed strap is extended forward perpendicularly behind the flat tops f of the tubes a short distance and then gradually twisted and bent outwardly, thereby carrying or bending the top ends of the tube sections outward at right angles and continuing over until the former top edge of said adjacent strap has assumed the lower edge thereof in reversed position and the said flattened upper portions of said sections thereby bent over and down. Such strap at point 1i top edge is shown as 12 in lowered position, and so sustained by bracket 10. Midway between the'point 10 and 1l said strap and top of said section are substantially horizontal as at 13. At the point 10', the flattened top of the said section will have been bent down over the outside of extension rail 5|. The rail 5I' is discontinued at this point, but the strap 69 is continued onward in spaced relation from and with the said jaws and tubes, as indicated by 1I as a guard to maintain said folded tube sections in perpendicular position, but loosely conilned to permit any suitable cover containers as h, to be disposed over such folded and closed sacks, after such sacks have been carried beyond the rail 5|. The tendency of the folded ends d and f of the sacks to expand within such containers, is sufficient to maintain such sacks and 'covers in the desired relative positions, one over the other, for ordinary use.

Having described my invention I claim as new:

1. A machine for building fire crackers comprising, a frame and a cylinder rotatably mounted thereover, perpendicular grooves on the side of said cylinder for carrying elongated tubular material for powder sacks, a knife rotatably mounted adjacent said cylinder adapted to cut said tube into sections for said powder sacks, a roller mounted on said frame adjacent said cylinder for flattening the lower ends of such sectionsfa track over said frame, a conveyor chain slidably mounted upon said tracks in spaced relation from said cylinder, pairs of curved jaws extended from such chain to provide sockets, a finger mounted adjacent the lower end of such cylinder adapted to shift said sacks from said cylinder into said sockets, a belt movably positioned along a portion of such chain and adapted to fold said flattened ends upward, spaced rollers rotatably mounted on said frame over said sockets adapted for flattening the tops of said sections, a strap mounted adjacentsaid rollers in twisted shape, adapted for turning down said flattened tops and for pressing such tops against the central portions of said sacks for insertion into containers.V

2. A machine for building fire crackers, including a frame, a cylinder rotatably mounted thereon and provided with perpendicular grooves along the periphery thereof for carrying extended lengths of tubular material, said cylinder provided with a groove horizontally disposed around the same, a knife blade rotatably mounted with the edge in the horizontal groove on said cylinder, adapted for cutting sections from the lower end of such tube material for powder sacks, means for attening the lower ends of such sections, a conveyer slidably mounted upon the frame and adjacent said cylinder provided with sockets for holding such sections, means for transfering such sacks from said cylinder into said sockets, a movable bending belt adjacent such attened `ends adapted to upturn the same, rollers mounted above the frame for flattening and closing the upper ends of said sections, a twisted strap adjacent said conveyer in front of said rollers adapted to down turn said flattened upper ends of said sections for powder sacks with means for simultaneously operating said cylinder, knife, chain and bending belt.

3. A machine for building powder sacks for fire crackers comprising a frame, a cylinder rotatably mounted upon the frame and provided with perpendicular peripheral grooves for guiding tubular material for such sacks, a shoulder on the lower end of said cylinder below said grooves, a roller rotatably and horizontally mounted on said frame adjacent said shoulder for flattening the lower ends of such tubular material, a knife mounted horizontally adjacent said cylinder adapted to cut tubular sections from the lower ends of such material for such sacks, a track mounted above the frame, a conveyer chain horizontally and movably mounted upon the track opposite said severed sections and provided with sockets for holding the same, means for transferring said sections from said cylinder into such sockets, a movable bending belt for upturning such attened ends, means for flattening ther upper ends of said sections, and co-acting means for rotating said cylinder and moving said conveyer and belt, together with means for down turning said upper attened ends for sealing charges of powder within such sections.

4. A machine for forming and closing powder sacks for recrackers, including a frame, a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame adapted for supplying tubular material in relatively long sections, means supported on the frame for severing relatively short sections from such material for powder sacks, a track mounted upon the frame, a conveyor for carrying such short sections along said track, bending means supported adjacent said conveyor for upturning the lower ends of such sections and closing the same while being carried along said track, and a twisted strap mounted adjacent said conveyor for subsequently downturning the upper ends of said sections while being so carried along said track and for compressing the said ends against the central portions of said sections to provide closed sacks adapted for insertion within container tubes for recrackers.

RAYMOND C. HITT. 

